Exhaust apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses an exhaust apparatus for attaching to new or existing engine exhaust systems comprised of a conduit for the ingress of exhaust emissions from an engine, a hollow central body, and a conduit for the egress of exhaust emissions from an engine. The hollow central body is hexagonal in shape, and is comprised of a top panel, a bottom panel, a first wing, and a second wing. The hollow central body is attached to the exhaust system in a manner whereby engine emissions cannot escape while passing through the ingress conduit, hollow central body, or egress conduit. Two or more vanes are internally situated near the point of egress so that engine emissions flowing from the central body must pass through the vanes prior to flowing into the egress conduit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/022,161, filed on Jan. 18, 2008, thecomplete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exhaust systems for engines, includingbut not limited to combustion engines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an exhaust apparatus for attaching toexisting exhaust systems, or alternatively, for incorporating into thedesign of exhaust systems of newly built engines.

Recognizing the current demand for lowering noxious emissions andgreenhouse gases that are often associated with combustion engines, itis one object of the present invention to increase the fuel efficiencyof an engine incorporating the present invention into its exhaustsystem.

Further recognizing that, notwithstanding the current demand to lowernoxious emissions and greenhouse gases by increasing an engine's fuelefficiency, there is also a demand to increase fuel efficiency withoutcompromising the engine's performance. Accordingly, it is another objectof the present invention to increase an engine's fuel efficiency whilesimultaneously increasing an engine's horsepower rating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally comprised of a conduit for theingress of exhaust emissions from an engine, a hollow central body, anda conduit for the egress of exhaust emissions from an engine.

The hollow central body of the present invention is preferably hexagonalin shape, and is generally comprised of a top panel, a bottom panel, afirst wing, and a second wing. Preferably, the hollow central body isstamped with ridges to lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced bythe compression of engine exhaust emissions as they pass through thehollow central body.

The hollow central body is attached to and located between the ingressconduit and egress conduit, respectively, in a manner whereby engineemissions cannot escape from the device while passing through theingress conduit, hollow central body, or egress conduit.

Two or more vanes are internally situated at or near the point ofattachment between the hollow central body and the egress conduit sothat engine emissions flowing from the central body must pass throughthe plurality of vanes prior to flowing into and through the egressconduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the exhaust apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the exhaust apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the exhaust apparatus with the toppanel removed.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the exhaust apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of the ingress conduit entrance and hollowcentral body entrance of the exhaust apparatus.

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of the egress conduit exit and hollow centralbody exit of the exhaust apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2, the present invention is comprised of aningress conduit 1 having an ingress conduit entrance 2; a hollow centralbody 3; and an egress conduit 4 having an egress conduit exit 5. A firstend of hollow central body 3 is attached to ingress conduit 1 at firstattachment point 18, and a second end of hollow central body 3 isattached to egress conduit 4 at second attachment point 30. Hollowcentral body 3 is situated between ingress conduit 1 and egress conduit4. Preferably, hollow central body 3 is generally hexagonal in shape andis comprised of a top panel 6; a bottom panel 7; a first wing 8; a firstside panel 11; a second side panel 12; a second wing 13; a third sidepanel 16; and a fourth side panel 17.

The present invention is preferably constructed of a material capable ofwithstanding high temperatures and pressures associated with engineexhaust systems known in the art, including but not limited to iron orsteel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between theingress conduit entrance 2 and the egress conduit exit 5 isapproximately between twenty and forty centimeters, and preferablybetween twenty five and thirty centimeters.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, emissions enter the exhaust apparatus via theingress conduit entrance 2. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter ofingress conduit entrance 2 is approximately between two and sixcentimeters, and preferably between three and five centimeters.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, a first end of ingress conduit 1, is more distal to hollowcentral body 3, includes ingress conduit entrance 2, and issubstantially circular. A second end of ingress conduit 1 is moreproximal to hollow central body 3, is substantially rectangular inshape, and forms the hollow central body entrance 19. Thecross-sectional area of the ingress conduit 1 decreases from the distalend of ingress conduit 1 to the proximal end of the ingress conduit 1.As illustrated in FIG. 4, ingress conduit 1 retains a substantiallyuniform shape notwithstanding the transition from a substantiallycircular first end of ingress conduit 1 to a substantially rectangularsecond end of ingress conduit 1

Hollow central body 3 has a substantially rectangular inlet whichsecurely connects with the proximal end of ingress conduit 1 at a firstattachment point 18. Ingress conduit 1 is securely attached to hollowcentral body 3 at first attachment point 18 so that emissions passingthrough ingress conduit 1 and into hollow central body 3 cannot escapefrom the device.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, preferably, hollow central body entrance 19 issubstantially rectangular. Hollow central body entrance 19 has a firstentrance wall 20 facing first wing 8; a second entrance wall 21 facingsecond wing 13; a third entrance wall 22 facing top panel 6; and afourth entrance wall 23 facing bottom panel 7. The distance betweenthird entrance wall 22 and fourth entrance wall 23 of hollow centralbody entrance 19 is approximately between four centimeters and eightcentimeters, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. Thedistance between first wall 20 and second wall 21 of hollow central bodyentrance 19 is approximately between two and five centimeters, andpreferably between three and four centimeters.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the present invention,first side panel 11 is further comprised of angle B 25; second sidepanel 12 is further comprised of angle C 26; third side panel 16 isfurther comprised of angle E 28; and fourth side panel 17 is furthercomprised of angle F 29. Angles B, C, E, and F 25, 26, 28, and 29 areapproximately between 135 and 165 degrees, and preferably between 140and 155 degrees.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, in another embodiment of the presentinvention, the point of contact between first side panel 11 and secondside panel 12 is comprised of angle A 24, and the point of contactbetween third side panel 16 and fourth side panel 17 is angle D 27.Angle A 24 and angle D 27 are between approximately 120 and 160 degrees,and preferably between 140 and 150 degrees.

The distance between angle A 24 and angle D 27 of hollow central body 3is approximately between eight and eleven centimeters, and preferablybetween nine and ten centimeters. The distance between angle A 24 andangle B 25 is approximately between one and five centimeters, andpreferably between two and four centimeters. The distance between angleA 24 and angle F 29 is approximately between one and five centimeters,and preferably between two and four centimeters. The distance betweenangle D 27 and angle C 26 is approximately between one and fivecentimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. Thedistance between angle D 27 and angle E 28 is approximately between oneand five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between toppanel 6 and top panel 7 of hollow central body 3 is approximatelybetween four centimeters and eight centimeters, and preferably betweenfive and seven centimeters.

In another embodiment of the present invention, first, second, third,and fourth side panels 11, 12, 16, and 17 of hollow central body 3 arereinforced with additional sheets of metal to lower, or altogether avoidvibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they pass throughhollow central body 3. Top panel 6 and bottom panel 7 can also bereinforced with additional sheets of metal to help lower, or altogetheravoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they passthrough hollow central body 3. In yet another embodiment, the interiorsurface of top panel 6 and/or bottom panel 7 are stamped with two ormore parallel opposing grooves 9 and 10 to help lower, or altogetheravoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they passthrough hollow central body 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, emissions exit the present invention via afirst end of the egress conduit 4, defined herein as the egress conduitexit 5. The diameter of egress conduit exit 5 is approximately betweentwo and six centimeters, and preferably between three and fivecentimeters.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, the first end of egress conduit 4, is more distal to hollowcentral body 3, includes egress conduit exit 5, and is substantiallycircular. A second end of egress conduit 4 is more proximal to hollowcentral body 3, is substantially rectangular in shape, and forms thehollow central body exit 31. The cross-sectional area of the egressconduit 1 decreases from the distal end of egress conduit 4 to theproximal end of the egress conduit 4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, egressconduit 4 retains a substantially uniform shape notwithstanding thetransition from a substantially circular first end of egress conduit 4to a substantially rectangular second end of ingress conduit 4.

Hollow central body 3 has a substantially rectangular outlet whichsecurely connects with the proximal end of egress conduit 4 at a secondattachment point 30. Egress conduit 4 is securely attached to hollowcentral body 3 at second attachment point 30 so that emissions passingthrough hollow central body 3 and into egress conduit 4 cannot escapefrom the device.

In another embodiment, the distance between first attachment point 18and second attachment point 30 is approximately between nine andthirteen centimeters, and preferably between ten and twelve centimeters.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, hollow central body exit 31 is preferablyrectangular in shape having a first exit wall 32 facing first wing 8; asecond exit wall 33 facing second wing 13; a third exit wall 34 facingtop panel 6; and a fourth exit wall 35 facing bottom panel 7. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the distance between third exitwall 34 and fourth exit wall 35 of hollow central body exit 31 isapproximately between four centimeters and eight centimeters, andpreferably between five and seven centimeters. The distance betweenfirst exit wall 32 and second exit wall 33 of hollow central body exit31 is approximately between two and five centimeters, and preferablybetween three and four centimeters.

In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more vanes aresituated within the hollow central body 3 near the second attachmentpoint 30, and preferably, securely attached to the proximal end ofegress conduit 4 at hollow central body exit 31. As illustrated in FIG.6, in a preferred embodiment, vane 36 is opposed parallel to vane 37. Afirst end of vanes 36 and 37 are attached to top panel 6 of hollowcentral body 3, and a second end of vanes 36 and 37 are to bottom panel7 of hollow central body 3. Preferably, the distance between vanes 36and 37 is approximately between zero and three centimeters, andpreferably between one and two centimeters. Emissions flowing throughthe hollow central body 3 must pass through vanes 36 and 37 prior toflowing into and through the egress conduit 4.

In one embodiment of the present invention, vanes 36 and 37 areapproximately between four and eight centimeters in height, andpreferably between five and seven centimeters. Vanes 36 and 37 areapproximately between one and four centimeters in length, and preferablybetween two and three centimeters.

Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intendedthat all matters in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalence.

1. An exhaust apparatus for an engine comprising: an ingress conduit, anegress conduit, and a hollow central body being situated between saidingress and egress conduits, said ingress conduit having a substantiallyrectangular end proximal to said hollow central body and a substantiallycircular second end distal to said hollow central body; said egressconduit having a substantially rectangular end proximal to said hollowcentral body and a substantially circular second end distal to saidhollow central body; said hollow central body further comprising asubstantially rectangular inlet connected to said proximal end of saidingress conduit and a substantially rectangular outlet connected to saidproximal end of said egress conduit; said hollow central body beingsubstantially hexagonal and comprising a top panel, a bottom panel,first and second side panels forming a first wing, and third and fourthside panels forming a second wing; and two or more parallel vanessituated within said hollow central body near said outlet.
 2. Theexhaust apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exhaust apparatus is situatedwithin an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.
 3. Theexhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby the cross-section area of saidingress conduit decreases from said distal end of said ingress conduitto said proximal end of said ingress conduit.
 4. The exhaust apparatusof claim 1 whereby the cross section area of said egress conduitincreases from said proximal end of said egress conduit to said distalend of said egress conduit.
 5. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 wherebythe interior surface of said upper panel includes two or more parallelgrooves.
 6. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby the interiorsurface of said bottom panel includes two or more parallel grooves. 7.The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby said two or more parallel vanesare attached to said proximal end of said egress conduit.
 8. The exhaustapparatus of claim 1 whereby the angle formed by said first and secondside panels, and the angle formed by said third and fourth panels, isbetween 135 and 165 degrees.
 9. The exhaust apparatus of claim 8 wherebysaid angle formed between said first and second panels, and said angleformed between said third and fourth panels is between 120 and 160degrees.